公开(公告)号：US20250120473A1

公开(公告)日：2025-04-17

申请号：US18912450

申请日：2024-10-10

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Christopher A. Brown ,  David J. Kohanski ,  Katherine S. Rosivach ,  Henry D. Ball

IPC: A43B13/16 ,  A43B7/32 ,  A43B13/14

Abstract: A force absorbing device for a footwear appliance includes a shoe upper and a shoe sole having a planar sole surface, such that forces between the shoe upper and planar sole surface in ground contact are absorbed by storage and controlled release of kinetic energy in an elastic or resilient field. A footwear article such as a shoe or boot includes a split-sole system that redefines a shoe sole as coplanar surfaces having a force mitigating interface for receiving sudden forces and effectively mitigating these forces by storing kinetic energy and releasing it over time. An elastic field in the force mitigation interface is defined by a resilient material adapted to deform in response to the received force. Frictional engagement between the upper and lower sole may also be augmented by surface characteristics such as dimples, voids and lubricants, in addition to interference engagement with an elastic field.